Railroad-tie.



J. A. SILVER.

RAILROAD TIE.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,!9117- I L28L86 Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

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RAILROAD TIE.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 20.1917- 7 1,2819%. Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

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RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Application filed July 20, 1917. Serial No. 181,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. SILVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties, and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The invention is a novel improvement in combined metal and concrete railroad ties or sleepers; and has particular reference to the class of such ties using what are commonly termed pot-sleepers.

The objects of the invention are: to provide a novel pot-sleeper consisting of an approximately oblong or elliptical hollow metallic body of peculiar construction filled with concrete; to provide novel means for connecting opposite pot-sleepers to form a tie; to so construct the pot-sleepers that the rails can be readily attached thereto; to prevent creeping of the sleepers; to enable bolts and rivets to be dispensed with in the connections between the pot-sleepers; and to simplify, the construction, reduce the cost of manufacture, and facilitate the assembly of parts of such ties.

I will explain the improvement in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention; and summarize in the claims the novel features and combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of track showing the general arrangement and construction of the ties.

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the pot sleepers and connected tie-bar.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail transverse section on the line 3.3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal section on the line H Fig, 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on the line 55 Fig. 4. V

The tie comprises two similar opposite pot-sleepers 1 connected by a tie-bar.

Each pot-sleeper consists primarily of an inverted hollow metal member whose greatest diameter lies parallel with the rail. Each of these members may be cast, but is preferably stamped from sheet steel, in an elliptical cup-shape; and the side walls 1 thereof incline downwardly and outwardly from the top thereof as shown. At each end the member is provided with an extension or lip 1 which depends below the lower edge of the wall 1 is preferably curved and serves to prevent the pot-sleeper moving sidewise as well as lengthwise of the track.

The side walls 1 of the pot-sleeper are preffilled with concrete, indicated at 2; which concrete may be reinforced if desired in any suitable manner as by means of a metal screen 3, so that the concrete and metal member become practically inseparably connected and together form the complete potsleeper. In some cases the pot-sleeper can be filled with asphalt so as to make it more elastic; this is desirable when used in stone tunnels or on stone or metal foundations.

By having the sides of the sleeper 1 inclined or tapered as shown, it results that when the pot-sleeper is in use the concrete filling will always be pressed tightly against the sides of the metal casing or member, and the concrete is thus prevented from loosening and the metal is prevented from vibratirlig, sounding or ringing, which is obj ectiona c.

It will be seen that the complete potsleeper comprises a compound metal and concrete or asphalt structure, the concrete being practically incased within themetal member and not merely reinforced by it.

Each pot-sleeper is provided at each side of the opening 1 and in line with the rail at opposite sides of the center line of the member with a series of key slots 1 with any one of which the head 3* of a fastening bolt 3 may be engaged; these bolts are used to secure the clamps 8 that engage the flanges of the rails and fish plates, the

clamps being secured on the bolts by nuts 3 is indicated in Figs. 1-3.

Atthe inner side of each pot-sleeper is a member or casting4 which. is rigidly attached to or foigned on the pot-sleeper and is provided with a socket or recess in its outer side, and the vertical side Walls of said socket are oppositely inclined, as indicated at 4 in Fig. 4. The upper and lower walls of this member may be recessed at the mouth of the socket as indicated at 4 in Figs. 1 and 3.

Detachably engaged with the member 4 are clamps 5 each of which is provided with a tapered surface 5 adapted to engage one of the opposed tapered surfaces 4 of the member 4. The clamps 5 and th member 4 are preferably oppositely tapered as shown in Fig. 4 so that the more tightly the bolts 7 are drawn the more securely will the tiebar be clamped.

The clamps 5 are provided with recesses 5 in their opposed faces to engage a head 6 on the end of a tie-bar 6; hereinafter referred to. These clamps 5 are also provided with base-flanges 5 which are notched as at 5 (see Fig. 4) to engage between them the shank of a bolt 7, which has a head 7 adapted to engage the flanges 5 of the opposed clamp members 5.

The. tie-bar 6 is preferably T-shaped in cross section and has an enlarged head 6 on each end which head is adapted tobe engaged by and between the clamp members 5 attached to each pot-sleeper and be rigidly secured to the pot-sleeper when the clamp 7 members 5 are drawn into the recesses 4 by tightening the bolt 7 The bolt 7 extends through apertures in the side wall of the pot-sleeper l and the adjacent inner wall 1 into the opening 1-, and may be secured by any suitable means. As-shown itis confined by means of a wedge 8 engaging a slot 7 in the bolt 7, and said wedge is secured by a retainer 8 engaged with any one of a series of perforations 8 in the wedge, or the end of the wedge can be bent if desired to keep it in place after it is. driven. home. The bolt 7 is of such length that when the wedge is driven home it will tend to draw the clamp members 5 intothetaperedopenings in the casting 4.

Owing to the taper of the clamps 5 and the member 4 the tighter the bolt 7 is. drawn the more securely are the clamps engaged with the tie-bar and with the member 4 and in this manner a rigid and durable connectionis made between adjacent pot-sleepers without the use of bolts.

The heads 6? of the tie-bar 6 engage within the notches 4 of the members 4 and when the parts are properly positioned the sleepers cannot tilt or oscillate relative to each other.

The clamps 5 may be provided with recesses 5 in the edges of their jaws and the ends of the tie-bar may be provided with enlargements 6* that engage recesses 5 (see Fig. 4) and prevent the tie-bar becoming vertically displaced in the clamps. I

The members 4 may be changeable, and when it is desired to slightly change the distance between rails to compensate for wear, or adjust the distance between opposite rails the tie bar and clamps can be removed, and one or both members 4 detached and replaced by other members thicker or thinner as required; then the tie bar and clamps can be replaced and fastened as before. This does not requirechanging the tiebars, nor removing the devices that fasten the rails to the pot-sleepers. A clearance should be left between the inner ends of the clamps and the bases of the sockets in members 4, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the parts can be properly securely tightened when adjusted.

When the ties are used on electric railways, or where the track rails are used as conductors for electric signals insulating fiber washers 9 can be placed between the heads-6 of the tie-bar and the clamp members 5. A washer or washers 7 can be placed on bolt 7 between thewall 1 and the .wedge S tov enable the taper wedge 8 to quickly tighten the bolt 7 to hold the clamps securely in place. A reinforcing member 7 may be also interposed between the outer end of sleeve 7 and thewall 1 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. V

This construction does away with nuts, bolts, and most of the parts can be readily stamped out of steel at low cost.

To prevent strain on the bolt 7 possibly drawing the walls 1 and 1 toward each other and crushing the concrete interposed between said walls, a sleeve 7 is placed around. the bolt 7 between the walls 1 and 1, see Figs. 3 and 4.

My oval shaped pot sleepers, arrangedas shown, will permit the desired longitudinal resiliency of the track without displacement thereof. By arranging the sleepers with their longest diameters lengthwise of the track rails the latter, are more thoroughly supported, and the number of sleepers and tie bars required per mile of track is reduced without impairing the durability or firmness of the track structure. It is well H known that road beds sink or pack directly under the rails while the central, portion of the bed remains comparatively high and un yielding: and this causes tracks built with ordinary transverse sleepers to teeter when trains pass thereover; but such teetering cannot occur in a track built with my sleepers.

What I claim is:

1. A railroad tie comprising opposite potsleepers each provided'with a socket, clamps adapted to engage said socket, a tie-rod adapted to be engaged by said clamps, and means for fastening the clamps to the socket.

2. A railroad tie comprising opposite potsleepers each member having a tapered socket, clamps adapted to engage said sockets and means for fastening the clamps to the sockets.

3. In combination a pot-sleeper having a socket on its side, and a tie-bar provided with a head and clamps adapted to engage the head of the tie-bar and the socket memher.

4:. In combination a pot-sleeper, a tapered socket member on the side of the pot-sleeper, a tie-bar provided with a head and clamps adapted to engage the head of the tie-bar and the socket member.

5. In a railroad tie, a pot-sleeper having a member provided with a socket having tapered walls; and clamps adapted to engage the head of the tie-bar, and having tapered sides adapted to co-act with the tapered wall of the'socket.

6. A railroad tie comprising opposite potsleepers each provided with a socket; clamps adapted to engage said sockets, a tie-rod adapted to be engaged by said clamps, bolts engaging said clamps and sleepers to secure the clamps to the sockets and means for fastening the bolts.

7 A railroad tie comprising opposite potsleepers each provided with a member having a tapered socket; clamps adapted to engage said sockets, a tie-rod adapted to be engaged by said clamps, bolts engaging said clamps and sleeper to secure the clamps to the members and means for fastening the bolts.

8. In a railroad tie, the combination of opposite pot-sleepers each having outwardly sloping walls and provided at each end with-a depending lip adapted to anchor the sleeper; with a tie-rod, and clamps engaging said tie-rod to fasten the same to said sleepers.

9. In combination a pot-sleeper having a member provided with a socket; a tie-bar having enlargements adjacent its end, clamps adapted to enter the socket and en gage the end of the tie-bar and provided with recesses to engage the enlargements upon the sides of the tie-bar.

10. In combination a pot-sleeper, a member at the side of the pot-sleeper provided with a socket having tapered walls, a tiebar having enlargements adjacent its end; clamps provided with tapered sides adapted to enter the socket and to engage the end of the tie-bar, and further provided with recesses to engage with the enlargements upon the sides of the tie-bar.

11. In combination a pot-sleeper; a memher on the side of the pot-sleeper provided with a socket; clamps adapted to engage the socket and the head of the tie-bar, and provided with base flanges; a bolt provided with a head adapted to engage said flanges and pass through said socket into the potsleeper, and bolt fastening means,

12. In combination a pot-sleeper; a member on the side of the pot-sleeper provided with a socket having tapered walls, clamps provided with tapered sides and adapted to engage the socket and the head of the tiebar, and further provided with notched flanges, a bolt provided with a head adapted to engage said notched flanges and pass through said socket into the pot-sleeper, and bolt fastening means.

13. In combination a pot-sleeper having inner and outer walls and a central opening, a tie-bar provided with a head; a member on the side of the pot-sleeper having a socket, clamps adapted to engage the socket and also engage the head of the tie-bar and further provided with notched flanges; a bolt provided with a head adapted to engage said notched flanges and having a slot near its inner end, said bolt passing through said socket and entering the central orifice of the pot-sleeper, and bolt retaining means engaging said slot.

14%. In combination a pot-sleeper having outer and inner walls, and a socket, a tiebar provided with a head; clamps adapted to engage the socket and the head of the tiebar; a bolt engaging the clamps, a sleeve surrounding said bolt between the outer and inner walls of the pot-sleeper and means to fasten the bolt.

15. In combination a pot-sleeper having outer and inner walls, a member on the outer wall of the pot-sleeper provided with a tapered socket; a tie-bar provided with a head; clamps adapted to co-act with the tapered Walls of the socket and to engage the head of the tie-bar; a bolt engaging the clamp members; a sleeve surrounding said bolt between the outer and inner Walls of Eh? pot-sleeper; and means to fasten the 16. In combination a pot-sleeper having outer and inner walls, a member applied to the side of the pot-sleeper provided with a socket; a tie-bar provided with a head; clamps adapted to enter the socket and to engage the head of the tie-bar; a bolt engaging the clamp-members near its inner end and a wedge adapted to pass through a slot in said bolt and bind against the wall of the central orifice of the pot-sleeper.

17. In combination a pot-sleeper having outer and inner walls, a member applied to the side of the pot-sleeper provided with a socket having tapered walls; a tie-bar provided with a head; clamps adapted to co act with the tapered Walls of the socket and engage the head of the tie-bar; a bolt engaging the clamp-members and provided with a slot near its inner end; a sleeve surrounding said bolt between the outer and inner walls of the pot-sleeper and a wedge adapted to pass through the slot in said bolt and bind against the inner wall of the potsleeper.

18. In a railroad tie, the combination of opposite pot-sleepers, each provided with outer and inner walls; a tic-bar; a member on the side of each sleeper having a socket, clamps adapted to engage the socket and an end of the tie-bar, and provided with base flanges; a bolt head adapted to engage'with said base flanges and adapted to extend through said socket and walls of the adjacent pot-sleeper, and means for fastening said bolt.

19. In a railroad tie, the combination of opposite pot-sleepers, each provided with a central orifice, and outer and inner walls; a tie-bar; a member on the side of each sleeper having a socket; clamps to engage the socket and an end of the tie-bar, and

provided with base flanges; a bolt having a head adapted to engage with said base flanges and extend through said socket and said walls into the central orificev of the related pot-sleeper, and means for fastening said bolt. I

20. In a railroad tie, the combination of opposite pot-sleepers each provided with outer and inner walls; a tie-bar provided with T-heads; a member on the side of each sleeper having a socket; clamps having tapered sides adapted to engage the socket and also to engage the adjacent head of the tie-bar and'provided with base flanges; a bolt having a head adapted toengage said base flanges and extending through said socket and walls of the adjacent pot-sleeper, and a wedge adapted to pass through a slot adjacent head of the tie-bar; a bolt pro-- vided with a slot near its inner end and a head adapted to engage said clamps and extending through said socket and said walls into the central orifice of the adjacent potsleeper; a sleeve surrounding said bolt between the outer and inner walls of the potsleeper and a Wedge adapted to pass through a slot in said bolt and bind against the wall of the central orifice of the pot sleeper, substantially as described.

7 22. A hollow potfsleeper comprising an oval-shaped metal jacket having outwardly sloping walls and a concrete filling and pro-' vided at each end with a depending anchoring lip.

23. A hollow metal pot-sleeper compris ing a top having a central orifice, an outer wall surrounding and depending from the top and an inner wall depending from the top and surrounding the orifice.

24. A hollow integral metal pot-sleeper comprising a top having a central orifice, an outer wall surrounding and depending from the top, an inner wall depending from the top and surrounding the orifice, and depending anchoring lips at each end of the sleeper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH A. SILVER.

7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing thev Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G. 

